The victory, which ended Australia’s decade-long BGT drought, came after Cummins led his side to success on Sunday. Scott Boland was pivotal in the win, delivering outstanding performances at crucial moments, finishing with match figures of 10/75. On the final day, debutant Beau Webster played a key role by hitting the boundary that secured the six-wicket triumph.

Cummins expressed his joy in the post-match presentation, calling the series one of his all-time favourites. He praised the enthusiastic support of the Australian fans, noting the electric atmosphere at both the MCG and the SCG, where the crowd attendance was sold out on multiple occasions. “It will go down as one of my favourite series. The fans have made this series. MCG was great, and three sellouts in Sydney. It is such a special day in the calendar. It is something I grew up with. We are celebrating such a great cause,” Cummins said.

Australia faced a challenging chase in Sydney, needing 162 runs to secure the win. With a slender four-run deficit, they found themselves at 58/3, but the nerves were settled by calm and composed innings from Travis Head and Beau Webster, who guided the team to victory. Cummins reflected on the team’s determination, saying, “Unreal. It is one that a few of us didn’t have. The boys have had their eye on it, and it has lived up to the hype. We were just clear with the plans. Wanted to minimise the runs. We knew it was going to be a tricky wicket. The batters had a good method.”

Despite the pressure, Australia remained steadfast, with Cummins leading the charge. “Ultimately, it worked out. Immensely proud. We have spent a lot of time as a group. Perth was not as bad as it seems. We have had a lot of fun along the way. Some success along the way is always nice. It has been such a special group,” Cummins added.

With the 3-1 series victory, Australia has earned a place in the World Test Championship final, where they will face South Africa at Lord’s on June 11. Cummins expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, saying, “We feel so privileged to have achieved what we have. Really proud. We are also having the best times of our lives. It is always nice.”

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India enters the final match of the series on the back of an 184-run loss to Australia in the Melbourne Test, which gave the hosts a 2-1 lead. This defeat also dashed India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s early next year. Despite the setback, Gambhir remains unwavering in his belief that the Indian side has what it takes to prevail in Sydney.

During a pre-match press conference, Gambhir emphasized that the team has the right skill set and individual talent to clinch victory in the fifth and final match of the series. He highlighted the potential for even greater achievements in the future with the current squad.

“Extremely, extremely confident. You know, we’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals, we’ve got everything in the dressing room that can win a test match here. Not only here, but probably go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well. So, extremely confident,” Gambhir said.

However, India will need to adjust to a forced change in their lineup. Gambhir confirmed that pacer Akash Deep would be absent from the Sydney Test due to a back injury. The 28-year-old will not feature in the playing eleven, leaving the team to manage without him in the final match of the series.

“As of now, Akash Deep is out (for the fifth test) due to a back injury,” Gambhir stated.

India’s squad for the final match includes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian, Dhruv Jurel, and Harshit Rana.

The final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 3, with both teams gearing up for a thrilling conclusion to the series.

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The announcement took many by surprise when Ashwin walked out alongside India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, signaling the end of his illustrious cricketing career. The emotional moment was made even more poignant when a camera captured Ashwin sharing a heartfelt exchange with Virat Kohli on the final day of the Test match. Kohli’s embrace made it evident that something significant was about to unfold.

In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Ashwin spoke of the emotional weight of the moment. “I don’t know how to go about this honestly… It is truly a very emotional moment for me. It feels just like 2011-12 when I toured here, my first Australian tour and I saw a transition. Rahul (Dravid) bhai left, Sachin (Tendulkar) paaji left. Trust me guys, everybody’s time comes and today was truly my time,” Ashwin reflected, recalling how he witnessed the departure of greats in the past.

Ashwin went on to confirm that although he would be returning home, he would continue to follow the team’s progress. “I will be taking a flight back home but will tune in to see how well you guys do in Melbourne. The international cricketer in me might have come to an end, but the cricket nut in me will never come to an end. I will be looking forward to each one of your performances and all the very best. For all you guys, if you need anything, I am just a call away,” Ashwin added.

Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an era in red-ball cricket. Making his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies, Ashwin quickly became one of the game’s finest spinners. Throughout his career, he played 106 Tests, claiming an impressive 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, and scoring 3,503 runs. Ashwin’s formidable record includes 115 wickets in 23 matches against Australia, with an economy rate of 2.71.

The 38-year-old is also the record-holder for most wickets taken in a single Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, having picked up 29 wickets in the 2020-21 edition. He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, a feat that underscores his exceptional contributions to the game.

While Ashwin’s international cricket career has come to a close, his love for the sport remains undiminished, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

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After rain had washed out the opening day, the skies cleared and bright sunshine greeted the players at The Gabba, promising an exciting day of cricket. Australia resumed their innings at 28/0 from 13.2 overs, with Akash Deep and Bumrah sharing the new ball. The battle between bat and ball became a spectacle as Bumrah and Akash produced an outstanding spell of pace bowling.

Akash set the tone by applying pressure from one end, while Bumrah expertly executed his skills from the other. Usman Khawaja, despite his vast experience, appeared unsettled facing Bumrah, who continued to extract pace and bounce from the surface. The pressure mounted, and eventually, Bumrah got the breakthrough, dismissing Khawaja for 21 after forcing him to edge the ball to Virat Kohli at second slip.

With Australia reduced to 39/2, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship. The two Australian batters batted cautiously, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump and attacking the ones closer to the leg stump. As their partnership began to build, the Indian fielders became visibly frustrated, searching for a breakthrough.

Mohammed Siraj attempted a tactical move by trying to change the bails on the stumps, in a bid to disrupt Labuschagne’s concentration. Labuschagne quickly replaced the bails, but his stay at the crease was short-lived. Nitish Kumar Reddy, bowling with impressive accuracy, lured Labuschagne into playing an aerial drive, which resulted in another thick outside edge that was caught by Kohli, dismissing Labuschagne for 12.

With Australia at 76/3, Bumrah and Akash kept the pressure on the Australian batsmen. Akash continued to bowl with precision, particularly challenging Travis Head, who responded with a smile at times, acknowledging the quality of the deliveries. Despite the sustained pressure, Head and Smith managed to see out the remaining part of the session without further casualties.

Brief Score:
Australia 104/3 (Steven Smith 25*, Travis Head 20*; Jasprit Bumrah 2/26) vs India.

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This warm-up match was meant to provide India an opportunity to fine-tune their game before the upcoming Test series against Australia. The match, which is set to be a day-night affair, is crucial for the visitors to adapt to local conditions and sharpen their skills, particularly after a dramatic turnaround in their recent series against New Zealand at home.

India’s comeback in that series was nothing short of impressive, with a commanding 295-run victory over Australia in Perth, despite facing early setbacks. The first innings of that Test saw India being bowled out for just 150 runs. However, Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 runs off 59 balls) and Rishabh Pant (37 off 78 balls) played key roles, putting together a vital 48-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Australian bowlers Josh Hazlewood (4/29) and Mitchell Starc, along with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh, had India on the back foot early on.

In response, Australia’s batting faltered as they were reduced to 79/9, with Jasprit Bumrah claiming five wickets for India. Despite a late rally from Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey, who added 25 runs to the total, Australia could only manage 104 runs in their first innings, handing India a slender 46-run lead.

India’s second innings saw a brilliant display of batting from KL Rahul (77 runs off 176 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (161 runs off 297 balls), whose 201-run partnership set the stage for a dominant total of 487/6 declared. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 (143 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) further pushed India’s lead, setting Australia a daunting target of 534 runs.

Australia’s response on Day 3 saw them slip to 12/3, with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj dominating the proceedings. Despite valiant knocks from Travis Head (89 runs off 101 balls) and Mitchell Marsh (47 runs off 67 balls), Australia was bowled out for 238 on Day 4. India triumphed with a commanding 295-run victory, with Bumrah (3/42) and Siraj (3/51) finishing as the standout bowlers in the second innings.

As India prepares for their upcoming Test series against Australia, this warm-up match will be a vital opportunity for them to continue their momentum. The Indian squad for the match includes some of their top performers from recent tours, such as Rohit Sharma (captain), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah, along with emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana.

The Prime Minister’s XI team, captained by Jack Edwards, also features several promising players, including Matt Renshaw, Jack Clayton, and Scott Boland, who will be looking to challenge India and gain valuable experience ahead of the new season.

With the rain continuing to impact the schedule, both teams will be eager for the weather to clear so they can begin their preparations for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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